The race lasted less than a lap before the caution was thrown when a manhole cover lodged itself in the front splitter of Corey Day’s #17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro.
“What was on the back straight I ran over? It looked like a manhole cover,” Day radioed, before bringing his car back to the pit lane.
After several laps under the control of the Safety Car, racing was stopped to inspect the circuit and make repairs.
Remarkably, when Day returned to the race, he came upon a truck going the wrong way.
“Please let me know if there are any more safety trucks driving backwards on the track,” said a frazzled Day.
Commentators were left aghast by the scenes.
Secure your spot today.
“Oh my goodness. Wow. Good reaction by the safety truck,” said Parker Kliggerman.
“That’s the fear ever going opposite of traffic.
“On a 3.5-mile course, he’s way behind where the field is located, so he’s going to try and catch up.
“The other thing about a street course, think how low he is with the walls and the fencing – he can’t see around any of these corners.
“The majority of the corners are blind for us. That is just a bad circumstance.”
Corey!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/N0CsQMjZMo
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) June 20, 2026
Despite losing laps under the caution, NASCAR reinstated Day to the lead lap.
His hardship continued, however. Day was stung for speeding in the pits at the end of Stage 1.
Day rallied to finish Stage 2 in fourth and restarted Stage 3 in 26th after pit stops.
On Lap 30, he spun and brought out the caution.
At the time of publication, Parker Retzlaff (Viking Motorsports) leads Taylor Gray (joe Gibbs Racing) and Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports).
Caution is out for … a manhole cover in @corey_day_‘s radiator.
Day of many firsts here at San Diego. pic.twitter.com/fghOmk4qXs
— The CW Sports (@TheCW_Sports) June 20, 2026
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